The snow has been piling up on roofs, roadsides and anywhere, really, where there’s been room in this record-setting winter, but when the warm-up comes, that melted snow could be finding its way into basements and through ceilings.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids is warning that the high snow depth, lots of moisture in that snow and large amounts of ice on waterways could mean flooding once the warm weather arrives.

“When it gets above 50 degrees, that’s when we see some real efficient melting going on,” said meteorologist Nathan Jeruzal of the Grand Rapids office.

Weather.com says the Holland area could experience 30s and 40s through next week.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center has West Michigan with at least a 50 percent chance of seeing above-average temperatures through Feb. 26 and a more than 60 percent chance of above-average precipitation.

The average high for late February rises from 36 degrees to 39 degrees by the end of the month.

Normally, snowmelt is a slow process, according to the weather service, with melting rates comparable to light to moderate rainfall. Warm temperatures with high dew points, meaning it’s humid, and night temperatures above freezing can significantly speed up the melting.

And that melting can cause problems for homeowners, travelers and along rivers.

“To start, you need to get the snow off of roofs and windowsills,” said Stacy Segrist Kamphuis of The Insurance Group in Holland.

The heavy snow with rain on top could easily damage roofs, and the water from melting snow could destroy the paint and rot the wood along windows, she said. The same goes for snow drifts along wooden doors and frames — remove the snow before it starts to melt and the water warps and destroys the wood.

Ice dams along roofs should be taken care of, too, because they can cause leaks inside the house.

“Those big, pretty icicles have to come down,” she said.

Snowbanks along stairs should be cleared, she said, so melting snow doesn’t refreeze, causing people to slip and fall.

And the big snowbanks along the side of the house should be moved away from the foundation so they don’t melt directly into the home, she said.

“Keep spreading out those snowbanks,” she said.

The amount of standing snow is equal to more than 2.5 to 3 inches of rain, according to the weather service. With the ground still frozen from 2 to 6 inches deep, the water has few places to go.

While taking care of the outside of the home, people also need to be careful, Kamphuis said. Her company has seen many cases of people hurt lifting snow or slipping on ice.

“They definitely need to take care of their home and their health,” she said.

Page 2 of 2 - The melting snow could make driving a challenge.

“All of that snow piled up along our roads will begin melting, and you may encounter areas that have water over the roadway. Use caution,” said Capt. Frank Baker of the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office.

The melting could cause localized road flooding that could cause drivers to hydroplane and lose control. Large puddles could hide deep potholes that could damage vehicles.

“Do not drive through areas that you are unsure of the depth,” Baker said.

Dirt and gravel roads could be difficult to get through as the snow melts. Refreezing will occur, making bridges and overpasses especially slippery, he added.

Area rivers could become clogged with ice as the temperatures warm and the ice breaks up and heads down river, causing floods, Jeruzal said.

“We’re watching this closely,” he said.

People along rivers need to keep an eye on National Weather Service alerts and be prepared to evacuate, said Beth Thomas, Ottawa County emergency management director.

Residents should know the evacuation route and have an emergency kit that includes food, water, batteries and first-aid materials.

The Grand River in Robinson Township has topped its banks in the spring, as has the Kalamazoo River in New Richmond.